‘Carnival!’ Downplays the Circus Atmosphere

If you assume the title has some connection to revelries in Rio--reasonable, given that this all-star collection is a benefit for rain forest preservation--you’re in for a surprise.

This is a pretty somber affair, opening with mournful performances by Sting, the Chieftains and Annie Lennox doing traditional British Isles tunes and staying in a melancholy mood with songs generally remembered from or dealing with the artists’ childhoods. Apparently they were sad ones.

Still, it’s a top-notch cast ranging from Elton John, Bette Midler and Luciano Pavarotti to world music stars Ruben Blades and Johnny Clegg. And original songs by Madonna and Paul Simon are far superior to the throwaways often found on benefits.

The carnival element doesn’t come clear until later, with a colorful performance of French Romantic composer Camille Saint-Saens’ “Le Carnival des Animaux” with pianists Katia and Marielle Labeque leading a small chamber ensemble. A lively, live rendition of the Aaron Copland-arranged American folk song “I Bought Me a Cat” by James Taylor precedes the suite with appropriate silliness, and a round of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” led by Tina Turner closes the album in kind.

It’s a shame all the songs don’t match this friskiness for a true carnival.

*

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four stars (excellent).

*

Hear the Music

* Excerpts from these albums and other recent releases are available on The Times’ World Wide Web site. Point your browser to: https:/ /www.latimes.com/soundclips